Taking advantage

Lee Bowyer is not the player he was when he was part of a Leeds United side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, but then, Derby County's back four won't remind anyone of a side capable of such heights, either.

Bowyer scored two in a 5-0 rout that left Derby bottom of the table and inched West Ham into the top half at 18 points, ahead of Newcastle United on goal differential. The Times and the Telegraph both focused on Bowyer's performance. Besides the two goals, Bowyer also picked up a yellow card, his fifth of the season, leavng him suspended for the match after the international break against Tottenham. It matters little, as it turns out, because Bowyer will be out after hernia surgery. Bowyer is at least the third West Ham player to have hernia surgery this term, following Craig Bellamy and Mark Noble.

The Independent's game account concentrated on Derby's travails and their manager, Billy Davies. In an offhand way, the writer mentions that it would be a waste for West Ham to sign Adriano, on evidence of their form Saturday. First off, Adriano is not coming to the East End, no matter how much his YouTube clips make me wish that were happening. But, given that Derby are missing three centre-half defenders, does the writer think that Adriano would not be of some use to West Ham against a real back four? The Guardian called the match Derby's worst loss of the campaign, given West Ham's injury woes. Both the Independent and the Guardian named midfielder Nolberto Solano as the Man of the Match. He was the player who caught my eye the most on Saturday, too, as TMG and I watched with my friend scotto at Ginger's (more on that below). Solano's passing helped West Ham go forward for most of the game, he hit the crossbar on one free kick and then slammed home the fifth goal from another free kick. Fortunately, Solano didn't have the chance to misfire on any headers this time, unlike at Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, the Observer, in painting the direst possible picture for Derby, said the loss was all the more troubling for the Rams because the Hammers will be "scraping around the bottom half" come May. Really? That's in stark contrast to other accounts, which note West Ham have managed to stick mid-table despite the injuries. One thing, as I have mentioned previously, is that the schedule is going to become more difficult. West Ham have played eight of the 10 teams below them in the table, but only four of the eight above them. And one of those teams below them is the next opponent, Tottenham, who have lately righted their listing ship with new manager Juande Ramos. But that can wait till after the international break. Saturday, at least, a depleted West Ham did what they needed to do against a team that looks unlikely to make a charge off the bottom.

We decided to give Ginger's Ale House a try. I liked the experience, but I have to give it an incomplete for now, through no fault of its own. Derby-West Ham was the only match at 9 a.m. Saturday, following the Sunderland-Newcastle derby and preceding Liverpool-Fulham, so it wasn't a day that lent itself to an electric atmosphere. When TMG and I walked in a few minutes before 9 a.m., we were the only customers. Our bartender/server was fun to chat with and provided excellent service. TMG and I ate before we got to the bar, but scotto had the traditional Irish breakfast and seemed pleased with it. We'll give it another try sometime, and maybe grab a meal there. I think I will go to the Globe for the Tottenham match on Nov. 25. TMG will be flying back from London that day, coincidentally.